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Texas Freedom Network Statement on Today's Public Hearing about the Institute for Creation Research at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Two Committees at Joint Hearing Vote Unanimously to Recommend Board Rejection of Certification for ICR's Master's of Science Education Degree

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 23, 2008

Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller is releasing the following statement on today's vote by two Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board committees against recommending certification for the Institute for Creation Research's proposed master's of science education degree. Members of the Academic Excellence and Research Committee and the Participation and Success Committee voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of Raymund Paredes, the state's commissioner of higher education, not to approve the Institute's application. The full Coordinating Board will vote on the committees' recommendation on Thursday.

"The issue before the Coordinating Board isn't about academic freedom or free speech. The issue is whether the state will sanction the teaching of religion as science. Committee members today recognized that doing so would be a disservice both to science and to faith.

Just as important, our state's leaders have said that they want our public schools to do a better job preparing students for college and the jobs of the 21st century. If we're serious about that goal, then we must be serious about how we train our teachers. Approving an advanced degree in science education from an institution that doesn't really teach science would represent a huge step backward."

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The Texas Freedom Network Education Fund is a nonpartisan research and citizen education organization that works on issues involving religious freedom, civil liberties and public education.